Debates of Sept. 24th, 2025

Agriculture and Agri-Food

[Mel Arnold, Conservative, Kamloops—Shuswap—Central Rockies, BC]

Mr. Speaker, farmers love their animals and would do anything to protect them. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is planning to cull 400 ostriches in B.C. because of an outbreak of avian flu.

When it comes to animal safety, Canadians expect due diligence and transparency. They are looking to the government to explain why the cull is necessary, but the Liberal government has not posted a public update in over a month.

Canadians want to know this: Why did the Liberal ministers did not work with the agriculture sector to resolve the issue?

[Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Minister of Health]

Mr. Speaker, I want to make sure the member knows that I am working very closely with the Minister of Agriculture. The case is now before the court, so I will not comment more.

Indigenous Affairs

[Jenny Kwan, NDP, Vancouver East, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the NDP fought tooth and nail for the $4-billion investment in the for indigenous, by indigenous urban, rural and northern housing strategy, yet two years later, the money still has not flowed. Shovel-ready projects are stalled while the housing crisis for indigenous, Inuit and Métis peoples continues to escalate.

In creating “build Canada homes”, the Prime Minister is admitting that CMHC is ill-equipped to deliver the much-needed affordable homes that Canadians need.

Will the Prime Minister let Indigenous Services take over so it can do what is necessary for indigenous-led housing providers to access the funds to build the homes the community desperately needs?

[Mandy Gull-Masty, Liberal, Minister of Indigenous Services]

Mr. Speaker, our home is where we should feel the safest. Many indigenous people live in housing that is overcrowded, contaminated and unaffordable. The new “build Canada homes” program is going to finance indigenous housing providers to grow affordable housing in communities while catalyzing capital for a revolutionary approach to homebuilding in communities at a pace we never saw in the darkest decade of government, the Conservative era.

Presence in the Gallery

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the Right Hon. Joe Clark, the 16th prime minister of Canada.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I also wish to draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the Hon. Siobhan Coady, Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board for the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I would also draw the attention of members to the presence in the gallery of the finalists of the 2025 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing: Raymond B. Blake, Stephen Maher, the Hon. Jane Philpott, Alasdair Roberts and Tanya Talaga.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

The House resumed from September 23 consideration of the motion.

Opposition Motion—Constitutional Powers of Quebec and the Provinces

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It being 3:14 p.m., the House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion of the member for Rivière-du-Nord relating to the business of supply.

Call in the members.

(The House divided on the motion, which was negatived on the following division:)

Vote #38

Business of Supply

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I declare the motion lost.

[Pat Kelly, Conservative, Calgary Crowfoot, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Many members are still relatively new, but the rules for voting are quite clear. Once the question has been called, members must be in their seat if they are voting in the chamber and must not leave their place.

I believe the member for Bourassa left the chamber and returned before the vote was finished. If his vote was counted by the Clerk, it would have to be taken off because he was not eligible to vote.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The first question is whether the member voted electronically or voted in person. When voting in person, a member cannot leave their seat.

The hon. member for Bourassa.

[Abdelhaq Sari, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, thank you for your observation. The vote was finished when—

[Some hon. members]

No.

[Abdelhaq Sari, Liberal, Bourassa, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I will just finish my sentence. The vote was finished.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

Even if the vote was finished, members must remain in the chamber until the result of the vote is announced.

The hon. member's vote will have to be withdrawn. This does not change the result, clearly.

I would also like to point out that it is the first time in my experience in the chamber, which has been long, that I have seen props during votes. I want to make sure everyone is aware that it is not permitted.

The hon. member for Berthier—Maskinongé.

[Yves Perron, Bloc, Berthier—Maskinongé, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to rise on the same point of order. Props are not allowed in the House. You just reminded the members of that.

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I would like to inform the House that because of the deferred recorded division, the time provided for Government Orders will be extended by 13 minutes.

Foreign Affairs

[Joël Lightbound, Liberal, Minister of Government Transformation]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2), and in accordance with the policy on tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement between Canada and Ukraine on the Mutual Protection of Classified Information”, signed at Brussels on December 3, 2024.

Interparliamentary Delegations

[Hedy Fry, Liberal, Vancouver Centre, BC]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 34(1), I have the honour to present to the House, in both official languages, the following report.

It is from the Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly respecting its participation in the election observation mission in Washington, D.C., and other regions of the United States of America from November 2 to 5, 2024.

Procedure and House Affairs

[Chris Bittle, Liberal, St. Catharines, ON]

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Standing Orders 104 and 114, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the third report of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs, regarding the membership of committees of the House.

If the House gives its consent, I intend to move concurrence in the third report later this day.